“Trying to regroup myself.”
“By hiding?”
“Hey, don’t judge.”
“Fine. I’m sorry.”
Tina takes a seat beside me on an upturned bucket. “You okay?”
I shake my head.
“You drunk?”
I bring two fingers together. “Maybe a little.”
She nods, as if she understands. “Grace says thank you.”
I smile. “Yeah?”
“Yup. Mr. Grayson was all red by the time he left. He couldn’t keep his hands off his crotch.”
Laughing, we high-five.
A few beats of silence. Then, “It’s really happening, isn’t it?” I swallow. “This isn’t a nightmare or anything?”
Tina shrugs. “I could pinch you, if you like.”
“I pinched myself a dozen times. So yeah, I think it’s real.” My elbows dig into my thighs. “I think he’s really back.”
I can feel it.
That’s the whole problem, actually. That I can feel it. Feel him.
I know he’s out there, in that ballroom that I almost broke my back cleaning. He’s probably mingling with people, namely his minions. He’s drinking, laughing, smirking like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
Like his coming back didn’t ruin everything.
Mr. Prince.
Is that what I’m supposed to call him now? While I strip his bedsheets and take out his fucking trash?
I nod. “What if he picks up where he left off?” I blurt out my biggest fear, wringing my hands. “What if he tries to do something… bad? Get me fired or something? What if I can’t get my house back? I have so much more to lose now. This isn’t prank wars or whatever.”
“Look, calm down. You don’t know what’s going to happen,” Tina explains, grasping my hands. “And you won’t know unless you go outside and face the situation. People say he’s visiting for a few days. Maybe he won’t notice you. It’s a big house. How many times have you seen Mr. and Mrs. Prince? Not many, I bet. Besides, if you keep hiding and don’t work the floor, Mrs. S will fire you anyway.”
I sigh. She’s right.
“God, I hate him.”
“I know. That’s all you ever talked about when he was here.”
“Well, duh. He freaking ruined every second of my life while he was here. He even ruined my prom.”
God, the prom.
The worst memory of my entire existence.
I was so happy that night. All dressed up in my navy blue skater prom dress with my leather boots. My make-up was all dark and heavy. I basically looked like a badass Cinderella ready to lose it. Her virginity, I mean.